Doc Severinsen
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Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (born July 7, 1927 in Arlington, Oregon) is an American pop and jazz trumpeter, best known for leading the NBC Orchestra in the Johnny Carson era.
Carl Severinsen's accomplishments began in his hometown of Arlington, Oregon, population: 600. Carl H Severinsen was born on July 7th, 1927, and was nicknamed "Little Doc" after his father, Dr. Carl Severinsen a dentist. Little Doc had originally wanted to play the trombone. But the senior Severinsen, a gifted amateur violinist, urged him to study the violin. The younger Severinsen insisted on the trombone, but had to settle for the only horn available in Arlington's small music store -- a trumpet. A week later, with the help of his father and a manual of instructions, the seven-year-old was so good that he was invited to join the high school band. At the age of twelve, Little Doc won the Music Educator's National Contest and, while still in high school, was hired to go on the road with the famous Ted Fio Rito Orchestra.
However, his stay with the group was cut short by the draft. He served in the Army during World War II and following his discharge, landed a spot with the Charlie Barnett Band. When this band broke up, Severinsen toured with Tommy Dorsey, and then, the Benny Goodman big band in the late 40's.
After his days with Barnett and Dorsey, Doc arrived in New York City in 1949 to become a staff musician for NBC. After years of playing with the peacock network’s studio bands, Severinsen was invited to do a gig with the highly respected Tonight Show Band. An impressed conductor, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join that band in 1962 as first trumpet. Five years later, Doc took over as Music Director for The Tonight Show and stayed with the show until Johnny Carson retired from late night television in 1992.
Apparently, Severinsen gave up drinking at some time in the 1950-1960's, later commenting how much easier it was to play high notes without a hangover.
During the 1950's and 1960's, Severinsen put out a number of albums of jazz standards, over which he performed very melodic solos. While not as much a "screamer" as Maynard Ferguson, Severinsen certainly had a well-developed high-note range, with an incredible amount of control and melodic sense.
Severinsen would sometimes substitute for Ed McMahon as announcer and sidekick. Although adept at comic interplay, Severinsen took his role as band leader on The Tonight Show seriously and campaigned for the band to get featured slots during the show. For many years, the NBC Orchestra was the most visible jazz big band in America. Severinsen continued as band leader until Carson's retirement in 1992.
In the 1960s, Severinsen also recorded with the Clarke/Boland Big Band and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band. Severinsen was also the second trumpeter whose recording of the fanfare "Abblasen," composed by Gottfried Reiche, has been used as the theme for the CBS News program Sunday Morning.
During his years with the Tonight Show and afterwards, Severinsen released albums that had a pop-rock basis, some of which had electronic instrumentation components, such as "Grass Roots", "Good Medicine" and "Facets". These albums had varying degrees of acceptance by the public.
Although he has worked with jazz artists, most of his own recordings as a leader have consisted mainly of pop music. Several recent recordings feature him playing classical trumpet repertoire. He is the principal pops conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Phoenix Symphony, and since 2001 Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music and Katherine K. Herberger Heritage Chair for Visiting Artists at Arizona State University School of Music.
To this day, Severinsen remains in amazing physical condition, as well as retaining his musical ability. Severinsen breeds thoroughbreds and quarter horses, and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Emily. His adult children are Nancy, Judy, Robin and Allen. He also enjoys cooking and collecting American art.
[edit] Trivia
Severinsen arranged the score for the preposterous nudist-themed cult film Nude on the Moon (1961).
Severinsen was the first grand marshal of the Endymion Krewe in New Orleans' biggest Mardi Gras parade.
In Super Bowl IV in 1970, trumpeters Al Hirt and Doc Severinsen "faced off" during the pregame show in a "Battle of the Horns". A planned hot-air balloon race fizzled when the balloon marked NFL and carrying a "Viking" lifted off prematurely, failed to gain altitude, and crashed into the stands in the end zone. Hirt later performed the national anthem, while actress and singer Carol Channing was featured during the halftime show that paid tribute to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
